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Dallas Cowboys: Why They Will Be Next Year’s Champion

By Ben Davila

Nov 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates his thirty-two yard touchdown to win the game with teammates against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Dallas won 35-30. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates his thirty-two yard touchdown to win the game with teammates against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Dallas won 35-30. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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So are you still upset about our Dallas Cowboys and their lack of involvement in Sunday’s Big Game? Here’s why they will finish the job next year…

Yeah, Super Sunday is nigh. The Dallas Cowboys fell short–again. Don’t worry, though. Even if the good guys had beaten Green Bay, I’m not sure they would have fared very well against Atlanta.

Truth be told, the Falcons are playing the best football in the NFL at this moment. There are a couple of reasons for this. Namely, a devastating offense leads the way. More importantly, an evolving and above average defense provides the proverbial “X” factor.

Here’s the thing: If the Falcon defense can get to Tom Brady, it is going to be a long day for New England. In fact, you heard it here first. Atlanta over New England, 35-31. Furthermore, the final score might appear to be closer than the game actually plays out.

But enough about that. We’re not here to celebrate the final participants, We are here to rationalize a path to glory next year. We all know the Cowboys are close. The offense is lead by a road-grading group of maulers on the offensive line.

Naturally, this makes for an overwhelming rushing attack. As a result, defenses must respect the running game. This opens up the passing game. As Dak Prescott displayed, there is all manner of man-to-man coverage to exploit as a result. Given a reasonable level of health, there is no reason to think next year’s offensive iteration of Dallas football will not be as successful as this year’s.

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Of course, this leads to the obvious questions regarding the Achilles’ heel of this team: the defense. This must be addressed in the upcoming draft, and it most assuredly will. If it is glaringly apparent to the fan base, then you can bet it will be confronted by the front office.

Now will they attack the matter as the Patriots do on a year-to-year basis? Probably not.

If you read the superb piece by the Monday Morning Quarterback’s Robert Klemko, then you already know that the Cowboys do not go about their business in this manner.

So who’s on the radar?

According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke, early projections point to Florida cornerback Teez Tabor. And while another quality defensive back won’t hurt, an edge rusher such as Michigan’s Taco Charlton would certainly bolster a pass rush that could use a lot of help. The bottom line is that the Cowboys need help on their defensive front.

A premier pass rusher and a run-clogging tackle would catapult this defense from decent to elite. There are a lot of complementary pieces already in place. A couple of shrewd additions would put the Dallas defense on par with their NFC Super Bowl representative.

All of this is a long explanation to what will be obvious as next season commences. The Dallas Cowboys will be everyone’s darlings as training camps start up. They possess youth, hunger, and an established blueprint for winning. The cornerstones are in place and under contract for the foreseeable future. It is up to the front office to build upon a season that exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations.

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So you also heard this here first: the Cowboys will find that winning formula in the offseason. The foundation was laid this year. The sting of a playoff loss provides the impetus for the necessary improvement. The stage has been set. The arrow is pointing up. Barring a catastrophic run of attrition, we’re in line for a long-deserved run at a sixth Lombardi trophy.

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